Residents in parts of Rison may see smoke coming out of the ground or up through household drains this week while city crews smoke-test the sewer system for leaks.
The testing started Monday, Oct. 19, and is set to run through Wednesday, Oct. 21, in designated parts of the city, Rison Utilities Director Gene Norton told Deltaplex News. An earlier city notice published by the Cleveland County Herald listed the window as Oct. 19-22.
What residents may notice
- Smoke outdoors: Crews force smoke into the sewer lines, so it can rise from yards, manholes and cleanouts where pipes are cracked or open.
- Smoke indoors: Smoke can also come up through sinks, tubs or floor drains that have not been used in a while. Norton said that happens when the water in a drain’s P-trap has dried up.
- No fire danger: Norton said the smoke is not a fire hazard.
- Report it: Residents who see smoke are asked to call (870) 489-2630.
A trap that holds water blocks sewer air from coming into a house. Running water for a few seconds in a sink or floor drain that sits unused refills it.
Why the city is testing
The smoke shows crews where leaks, breaks and other openings are in underground lines. Those openings let rainwater into the system and put extra load on the city’s wastewater treatment.
Norton first told the Rison City Council about the smoke tests in early September, the Cleveland County Herald reported. The testing is part of a wider push by Mayor Charles Roberts to repair the city’s aging sewer system.
Other sewer work
- Grant request: The council approved a resolution this summer letting Roberts seek a $500,000 Delta Regional Authority grant to rebuild the city’s sewer lift stations and replace sewer line, according to the Herald.
- Lift stations: Rison runs seven lift stations that pump wastewater over hills to the treatment plant at the solid waste transfer station on U.S. 79, the Herald reported.
- Line replacement: Roberts has said the city plans to replace about 1,300 feet of sewer line with a trenchless method that bores through old pipe without digging up streets.
For more news from the Cleveland County seat and nearby Kingsland, see the iSEARK.com Rison page.
Sources: Deltaplex News, Oct. 19, 2026 (Rison Utilities Director Gene Norton); Cleveland County Herald city notice, Oct. 9, 2026, and Rison City Council coverage.
